Area Football Players Step Up for Several Colleges

Thursday

One second you're on the sideline, lost in a crowd of players. The next you're in the spotlight with the team and thousands of fans depending on you.

One second you're on the sideline, lost in a crowd of players. The next you're in the spotlight with the team and thousands of fans depending on you.

The stadium is shaking from crowd noise. Players are buzzing around the field like someone hit the fast-forward button on the game, and it's time to step up. Will you thrive or fold under the pressure with the nation watching?

A few college football players from Polk County know all about this kind of situation after producing for big-time programs this season.

For former Kathleen star Dominique Davis, it happened in the blink of an eye.

The redshirt freshman served as Chris Crane's backup at quarterback for Boston College most of the season until Crane broke his collarbone in the second quarter of a game against Wake Forest in late November.

"As a backup quarterback, this is what you have to expect," said Davis of the opportunity to play. "You have to expect the unexpected."

Boston College's hopes of staying alive in the Atlantic Coast Conference title hunt were on the line and dimming after Davis struggled early with two fumbles, which helped put the Eagles behind in the game.

"Of course I was nervous," Davis said. "I haven't played since my senior year of high school, and you know you have to get the rust off. First college game, freshman quarterback. If you are not nervous, something is wrong."

Davis regrouped, drove the Eagles down the field late in the fourth quarter and scored the game-winning touchdown.

"It was kind of shocking and a little bit unexpected," Davis said. "But I was ready to step up and be the starting quarterback."

Davis said he was confident going into his first career start against Maryland the next week. He threw two touchdown passes to help the Eagles earn a trip to Tampa for the ACC Championship game.

Looking back, Davis said his situation unfolded just like his coaches said it could all season.

"Go into every game expecting to play always because you never know," he said. "You could get in in a tenth of a second. It happens that quick."

Maikon Bonani had a similar experience at South Florida.

The former Lake Wales standout started the season as the Bulls' backup placekicker. But after starter Delbert Alvarado struggled with consistency in the first two games, the freshman was given a shot at landing the job.

"We competed every day at practice to see who was going to start," Bonani said. "Well, he started and then things didn't work out. Coach (Jim) Leavitt gave me the opportunity, and I took it. I grabbed it."

Bonani made his college debut on a huge stage in September - in a nationally televised game at home against No. 13 Kansas.

"The very first game was the most nerve-wracking game of my life," Bonani said. "Especially before the first kick."

Bonani shook off a missed field goal attempt early on, hitting three later in the game, including a 43-yard kick as time expired that gave the Bulls a 37-34 comeback victory.

"I was happy and blessed to get the opportunity to kick," Bonani said. "Once the first couple of games were over, it became like my job. It's a passion of mine, so I was blessed to do it and really happy."

Bonani kept the job and ended the season making 15 of 21 field goal attempts. He can now be someone a young player can turn to if pressed into action, and his message will be simple.

"First of all, you wouldn't have the opportunity if you didn't have the talent," he said. "Wherever you are, wherever you're playing, whatever position you play, you have the talent. So just believe in yourself and go out there and do what you can, like you know what to do."

Florida safety Ahmad Black knows a lot about believing in himself. After seeing a small amount of the field in 2007, the sophomore was catapulted into a starting position this season.

Like Davis and Bonani, Black grabbed his chance quickly and didn't let it go.

Black, a former Lakeland Dreadnaught, intercepted two passes in a season-opening blowout against Hawaii and returned the second one 80 yards for a touchdown.

"My first interception, hearing the crowd cheering and stuff, it was kind of exciting for me," Black said. "It was the first time I really made a big, big play in The Swamp."

Black made more big plays as the season went on. He leads the team in interceptions (six) and ranks fourth among Gator defenders with 54 total tackles heading into the national championship game against Oklahoma on Jan. 8 in Miami.

Though he has statistics that some players would love, Black knows what is most important.

"I'll take a win any day over an interception," he said. "As long as we win, I don't need the stats."

Nerves or jitters haven't followed Black in the process because of his preparation. He put in extra work, listened to coaches and teammates, believed in his ability and ignored any outside factors that could have hampered his focus.

"I heard it all. I'm too small. I'm too slow. I heard a lot of things, but I didn't go out to prove people wrong," Black said. "I went out there to prove to myself, I know I can do it. I can be the best player I can be, not let my team down and to do my job and to make sure nothing bad happens because of me."

Black likes to lead by example, but if he was asked to give advice to a young player put into a pressure-packed situation it would probably be something he's said to himself in the past.

"Just go out there with a level head," he said. "Focus on the game and not the things around you."

[ Tom Zebold can be reached at tom.zebold@theledger.com or at 863-802-7553. ]

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.